Endoscope Combined Deflection Control and Lock

ABSTRACT

An endoscope including a shaft having a deflectable distal end; a main section at a proximal end of the shaft, where the main section forms a handle of the endoscope; and a deflection control connected to the distal end. The deflection control includes a combined lock and deflection control member at the main section comprising a control lever pivotably connected to the main section at a pivot and extending away from the pivot in a general cantilever fashion, and a lock lever pivotably connected to the control lever. A first end of the lock lever is configured to contact the main section. A second end of the lock lever is configured to be pressed inward on the control lever towards the main section to pivot the first end out of contact -with the main section.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part application of copending application Ser.No. 12/455,593 filed Jun. 3, 2009 which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an endoscope and, more particularly, to acombined deflection control and lock.

2. Brief Description of Prior Developments

There are flexible endoscopes with steering distal tip controlmechanisms with separate deflection control and lock (or brake) levers.A disadvantage of this construction is that operation of a deflectioncontrol and a separate lock or brake requires using two hands orfingers, or using one finger with at least two steps (a lock/unlock stepand a deflection step). For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,151B2, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses an endoscopewith a control lever 17 and a separate brake lever 22. After the controllever 17 is moved by a finger, such as a thumb, the brake 22 can bemoved by the same finger or a finger of another hand.

There is a desire to provide an endoscope deflection control and lockwhich can be operated by a single finger of a user.

SUMMARY

The following summary is merely intended to be exemplary. The summary isnot intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention,

an endoscope is provided including a shaft having a deflectable distalend; a main section at a proximal end of the shaft, where the mainsection forms a handle of the endoscope; and a deflection controlconnected to the distal end. The deflection control includes a combinedlock and deflection control member at the main section comprising acontrol lever pivotably connected to the main section at a pivot andextending away from the pivot in a general cantilever fashion, and alock lever pivotably connected to the control lever. A first end of thelock lever is configured to contact the main section. A second end ofthe lock lever is configured to be pressed inward on the control levertowards the main section to pivot the first end out of contact with themain section.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an endoscope isprovided comprising a shaft having a deflectable distal end; a handle ata proximal end of the shaft; and a deflection control connected to thedistal end, wherein the deflection control comprises a control leverpivotably connected to a first side of the handle, where the controllever extends from the first side of the handle in a general cantileverfashion, over an adjacent second side of the handle; and a lock leverpivotably connected to the control lever, wherein the lock levercomprises a lock section adapted to contact a lock section on thehandle.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method comprisespivotably connecting a control lever to a handle section of anendoscope, where the control lever is connected to a control wire pulleyof a deflection control system of the endoscope, where the control leveris adapted to be rotated on the handle section to rotate the pulley; andpivotably connecting a lock lever to the control lever, where the locklever is adapted to pivot on the control lever between a locked positionand an unlocked position, where in the locked position a locking sectionon a first end of the lock lever engages a lock section of the handlesection, and where in the unlocked position the locking section on thefirst end of the lock lever does not engage the lock section of thehandle section.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is providedcomprising rotating a lock lever in a first direction from a firstlocked position to a second unlocked position, where the lock lever ispivotably connected to a control lever, where the control lever ispivotably connected to a control wire pulley of a deflection controlsystem of the endoscope; and after the lock lever is moved to the secondunlocked position, moving the lock lever and the control lever togetherin a second different direction to thereby rotate the control wirepulley.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and other features of the invention are explainedin the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an endoscope comprising features of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the endoscope shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the endoscopeshown in FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the endoscope shown in FIGS.1-2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lock/brake pad shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the pad shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the pad shown in FIG. 6 taken alongline 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the pad shownin FIGS. 5-7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the framepiece shown in FIG. 3 showing an integrally formed lock/brake pad;

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of an alternate embodiment of sheinvention;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of some of the components shown inFIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an endoscope 10 is shown incorporatingfeatures of the invention. Although the invention will be described withreference to the example embodiments shown in the drawings, it should beunderstood that the invention can be embodied in many alternate forms ofembodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elementsor materials could be used.

The endoscope 10, in this embodiment, is a hysteroscope used forinspection of the uterine cavity of a patient. The hysteroscope is anoptical instrument connected to a video unit, and comprises channels fordelivery and removal of a distention medium and a tool. However,features of the invention could be used in any suitable type ofendoscope. In the example shown, the endoscope comprises a shaft 12 anda main section 14 which forms a handle. The shaft 12 has a front ordistal, end 16 which is controllably deflectable. In this embodiment therest of the shaft is substantially rigid. The distal end 16 is adaptedto deflection in left and right directions. However, any suitabledeflection capability could be provided.

The main section 14 is located at the proximal end of the shaft 12.Referring also to FIG. 3, she main section 14 has a workinginstrument/irrigation inlet 20, and a cable 22 with a connector 24adapted to be connected to another device. An electrical cable extendsfrom light emitting diodes (LEDs) in the distal end 16 to the mainsection 14. Alternatively, an optical cable for illuminating in front ofthe distal end 16 could be provided. Deflection control wires or cables26 extend from the distal 6 to a pulley 28 in the main section 14. Thepulley 28 is rotatably mounted in the frame 30 of the main section 14.As seen in FIG. 4, in this embodiment the main section 14 has buttons 15to control features of another device which the connector 24 isconnected to.

The pulley 28 and wires 26 form part of a deflection control for a userto control deflection of the deflectable distal end 16 from the mainsection 14. The deflection control also comprises a lever assembly 32.The lever assembly 32 is connected to the pulley 28 to axially rotatethe pulley 28 when the lever assembly 32 is rotated right or left asindicated by arrows 33 in FIG. 4. The lever assembly 32 comprises afirst lever 34 and a second lever 36. The first lever 34 is fixedlyconnected to the pulley 28. The second lever 36 is pivotably connectedto the first lever 34 by a pivot pin 38. Thus, the second lever 36 canpivot on the first lever 34, and the second lever 36 is connected to thepulley 28 by the first lever 34; in series. However, any suitablemovable connection of the second lever on the first lever could beprovided.

The second lever 36 has a first end 40 and a second end 42 on oppositesides of the pivot pin 33. Referring also to FIG. 3, the first end 40forms a finger receiver area 44 sized and shaped to receive a finger ofa user, such as a thumb. The second end 42 has a lock/brake 46. In thisembodiment the lock/brake 16 is a pin attached to the second end 42.However, any suitable lock/brake could be provided. A spring 48 isprovided between the first and second levers 34, 36 to bias the secondend 42 upward (see arrow 50) and the first end 40 downward (see arrow52) on the first lever 34. However, a user can use his/her thumb todepress the first end 40 (reverse to direction 50) to thereby pivot thesecond lever 36 at the pivot pin 38 and move the second end 42 upward(reverse to direction 52).

The main section 14 includes a lock pad 54 located opposite thelock/brake 46. In this embodiment the pad 54 is an insert which isfixedly inserted into a receiving area of the main section. The inserthas a general curved or arched shape. However, in an alternateembodiment the lock pad could be integrally formed with the frame of themain section, or any suitably sized and shaped lock/brake section (forengaging with the lock/brake 46 of the lever assembly) could beprovided.

Referring also to FIGS. 5-7, the pad 54 comprises a top side 56 having aseries of recesses 58. The recesses 58 are sized, shaped and arranged inan arch or curve to receive the bottom tip of the pin 46 at differentangular positions of the lever assembly 32. The recesses 58 allowpositive location of the pin 46, and, thus, positive location of theangular position of the lever assembly 32, at one of a plurality offixed predetermined locations selected by the user. When the secondlever 36 is at its home position (with the second end 42 biased downwardby the spring 48), the pin 46 is biased into one of the recesses 58.This prevents the lever assembly 32 from rotating relative to the mainsection 14 and, thus, prevents the lever assembly 32 from rotating thepulley 28, This forms a lock or brake for the deflection control system;fixing the position or shape of the distal end 16 on the shaft 12. Thepin 46 forms a first lock/brake section which engages with a secondlock/brake section formed by the pad 54.

With the same hand holding the handle formed by the main section 14, theuser can use his or her thumb to depress the first end 40 of the secondlever 36 (in a direction reverse to direction 50) to thereby disengagethe pin 46 from the lock pad 54. The user is then free to swing thelever assembly 32 (both levers 34, 36 moving together in unison) left orright as indicated by arrows 33. Once a desired deflection of the distalend 16 is obtained, the user can release the first end 40 of the secondlever 36 and the spring 48 can automatically biased the second lever 36back to its home position. This automatically locks the lever assemblyat a fixed angular position on the main section 14 due to there-engagement of the lock/brake sections 46, 54.

With the invention, a construction can be provided which has anintegrated deflection control and lock (brake) lever with an ergonomicdesign, and the lever can be activated with one finger (by a left ofright hand person) eliminating the need of using two hands or fingers,or using two steps with a single finger.

With the example embodiment of the invention described above, thecontrol lever 34 is firmly attached, such as with screws, to theexternal part of a pulley or pull cable mechanism 28. The lock (brake)lever 36 is pivotably attached to the control lever 34. A pin lock 46 isattached to one side of the lock lever, and a compression spring isplaced between both levers at the other side of the lock lever; with thepivot pin in between. The lock insert 54 is placed and secured to thetop surface of the endoscope enclosure/housing. The insert can be madefrom different materials and configurations.

Due to the location of the lock pin, the compression spring and thepivot pin, the lock pin creates a compression force to the lockpad/insert and the control lever is locked. In the example construction,the combined lever is always in the lock mode until positively moved bythe user. In order to deflect the distal end 16 of the endoscope, theproximal end of the lock lever is pushed down first with a thumb (forthe shown embodiment) to disengage the lock pin from the lock pad. Then,the combined lever assembly can be rotated with the thumb to the rightor left causing the distal tip to deflect accordingly; dependent on theway the pull cables or wires attached to the pulley.

The lock pad insert can be made from rubber with brake action or frommetal with indents with clicking action or holes for lock action.Referring also to FIG. 8, an alternate embodiment of the main section'slock pad 54′ is shown without recesses, such as when the pad is made ofrubber. Referring also to FIG. 9, an alternate embodiment is shown wherethe lock pad 54″ is made of metal integral with the frame piece 60. Thepin 46 is preferably metal, but could be made of rubber or polymermaterial or could be integrally formed with the second lever.

A method of manufacturing an endoscope can be provided comprising:

-   -   connecting a first lever to a control wire pulley of a        deflection control system of the endoscope, wherein the lever is        adapted to be rotated to rotate the pulley; and    -   connecting a second lever to the first lever, wherein the second        lever is adapted to pivot on the first lever.

The method can further comprise locating a spring between the first andsecond levers to bias the second lever towards a locked position. Themethod can further comprise biasing a lock section of the second leveragainst a lock section of a handle of the endoscope, wherein movement ofthe second lever on the first lever from a first position to a secondposition disengages engagement of the lock sections.

A method of operating an endoscope can be provided comprising

-   -   rotating a finger lever in a first direction from a first locked        position to a second unlocked position, wherein the finger lever        is pivotably connected to a control lever, and wherein the        control lever is connected to a control wire pulley of a        deflection control system of an endoscope; and    -   after the finger lever is moved to the second unlocked position,        moving the finger lever in a second direction to thereby rotate        the control lever and control wire pulley in the second        direction.

The method can further comprise, after the finger lever and controllever are rotated in the second direction to a user selected location,allowing a spring to pivot the finger lever on the control lever in athird direction opposite to the first direction such that a lock sectionof the finger lever engages a lock section on a handle of the endoscope.

One of the features of the invention is the spring loaded control leversubassembly. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the subassemblycomprises the two levers 34, 36, spring 48 and pin 46. One of thefeatures of the invention is a locking/breaking assembly having the pin46 on the lever 36 and the engaged pad 54 on the frame 30; which can beused with only one hand/finger operation. The engagement between the pinand pad can be (for example) frictional engagement, positive lockingengagement (such as a pin being located into a hole), and/or a detent orratchet type of relative position locating system.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an alternate embodiment of the invention isshown. In this example embodiment rather than having the front distalend 16 which is configured to deflect horizontally left and right, theendoscope 62 has a front distal end which is configured to deflectvertically up and down. Rather than having the vertically orientatedpulley 28, the main section 64 has a vertically orientated pulley withexternal ends 66 which are located at lateral sides of the frame 68. Thepulley and deflection control wires extending up to the front distal endform part of a deflection control for a user to control deflection ofthe deflectable front end from the main section 14. The deflectioncontrol also comprises a lever assembly 70. The lever assembly 70 isconnected to the external ends 66 of the pulley by screws 72 to axiallyrotate the pulley when the lever assembly 70 is rotated forward orbackward as indicated by arrows 74 in FIG. 10.

The lever assembly 70 comprises a lever member 76 and a spring 80. Thelever member 76 has two arms 82 located on opposite lateral sides of theframe 68. Top and bottom sections 84, 86 connect the two arms 82 to eachother. As seen in FIG. 11, each arm 82 has an elongate slot 88 at itscenter. At least one of the arms 82 also has a spring receiving pocket90. In this example embodiment, square end sections 67 of the pulleyshafts are slidably located in the slots 88. A portion 92 of theexternal end 66 of the pulley is located in the pocket 90. The spring 80is located in the pocket 90 and biases the portion 92 towards the bottomof the pocket 90. More specifically, the spring 80 biases the levermember 76 upward as indicated by arrow 75.

The bottom section 86 has a brake/lock pin 94. The frame 68 has abrake/lock pad or pin engaging area 96. When the lever member 76 isbiased upward by the spring(s) 80, this biases the pin 94 into a brakeor lock position with the pad 76 to prevent rotation of the lever member76 and, thus, prevent rotation of the deflection control wire pulley. Inorder to actively deflect the front distal end of the shaft up or down,the user can push the top section 84 downward as indicated by arrow 75′.Slots 88 provide clearance for the arms 82 relative to the screws 72.The spring(s) 80 is compressed in pocket(s) 90. The user can then rotatethe lever member 76 backward or forward as indicated by arrow 74. Oncethe desired deflection of the front distal end is obtained, the user canrelease the lever member 76, and the spring(s) 80 can bias the levermember back to an upward home position. The pin 94 engages the pad 96again to lock or frictionally engage the lever assembly 70 with theframe 68 again and thereby retain the distal front end at its deflectedconfiguration/position.

A single finger of a user can be used to unlock the locking engagementof the pin 94 and pad 96 (by pressing down 75′ on top section 84),rotate the deflection control wire pulley with the same finger (byrotating the tops section 84 forward or backward), and re-engage thelocking engagement of the pin 94 and pad 96 (by releasing the fingerfrom the top section 84 and allowing the springs(80) to bias the levermember 76 back to it home position). The lever assembly 70 can provide acombined lock and deflection control member at the handle, wherein thelever assembly 70 (combined lock and deflection control member) isadapted to be moved to a selected location by a single finger of a userand thereby deflect the distal end, and wherein the control member isadapted to be locked at a user selected location by movement of thelever assembly 70 (combined lock and deflection control member) to alocked position by the single finger of the user (in this case thesingle finger releasing depression of the lever member 76).

Referring also to FIG. 12, another example embodiment is shown. In thisexample the endoscope 110 comprises a shaft 112 and a main section 114which forms a handle. The shaft 112 has a front or distal end which iscontrollably deflectable. The distal end is adapted to deflection in upand down directions. However, any suitable deflection capability couldbe provided.

The main section 114 is located at the proximal end of the shaft 112.The main section 114 has a working instrument/irrigation inlet 120, aneyepiece 122, and a fiber optics connector 124. Deflection control wiresor cables extend from the distal end to a pulley in the main section114. The pulley is rotatably mounted in the frame 130 of the mainsection 114.

The pulley and deflection control wires form part of a deflectioncontrol for a user to control deflection of the deflectable distal endfrom the main section 114. The deflection control also comprises a leverassembly 132. The lever assembly 132 is connected to the pulley toaxially rotate the pulley when the lever assembly 132 is rotatedforwards or backwards as indicated by arrows 133. The lever assembly 132comprises a control lever 131 and a lock lever 136. The control lever134 is fixedly connected to the pulley. The lock lever 136 is pivotablyconnected to the control lever 134 by a pivot 138. Thus, the lock lever136 can pivot on the control lever 134, and the lock lever 136 isconnected to the pulley by the control lever 134; in series. However,any suitable movable connection of the lock lever on the control levercould be provided.

The lock lever 136 has a first end 140 and a second end 142 on oppositesides of the pivot pin 138. The second end 142 forms a finger contactarea. The first end 140 has a locking section on an inward facing side,such as a projection for example. In this embodiment the locking sectionis a pin attached to the first end 140. However, any suitable lockingsection could be provided. A spring is provided between the controllever and the lock lever to bias the second end 142 outward and thefirst end 140 inward on the control lever 134. However, a user can usehis/her thumb to depress the second end 142 to thereby pivot the locklever 136 at the pivot 138 and move the first end 140 outward.

The main section 114 includes a locking section or pad 54 locatedopposite the locking section of the lock lever 136. In this embodimentthe pad 54 is an insert which is fixedly inserted into a receiving areaof the main section. The insert has a general curved or arched shape.However, in an alternate embodiment the pad could be integrally formedwith the frame of the main section, or any suitably sized and shapedlocking section (for engaging with the locking section of the locklever) could be provided. The pad 54 has a series of recesses 58. Therecesses 58 are sized, shaped and arranged in an arch or curve toreceive the bottom tip of the locking projection of the lock lever atdifferent angular positions of the lever assembly 132. The recesses 58allow positive location of the tip and, thus, positive location of theangular position of the lever assembly 32, at one of a plurality offixed predetermined locations selected by the user. When the lock lever136 is at its home position with the second end 142 biased outward bythe spring, she tip is biased into one of the recesses 58. This preventsthe lever assembly 132 from rotating relative to the main section 114and, thus, prevents the lever assembly 132 from rotating the pulley.This forms a lock or brake for the deflection control system; fixing theposition or shape of the distal end on the shaft 112. The projectionfrom the first end 134 of the lock lever forms a first lock/brakesection which engages with a second lock/brake section formed by the pad54.

With the same hand holding the handle formed by the main section 114,the user can use his or her finger to depress the second end 142 of thelock lever 136 inward to thereby disengage the projection from the firstend 140 of the lock lever from the lock pad 54. The user is then free toswing the lever assembly 132 (both levers 134, 136 moving together inunison) forward or backwards as indicated by arrows 133. Once a desireddeflection of the distal end of the shaft is obtained, the user canrelease the second end 142 of the lock lever 136 and the spring canautomatically biased the lock lever 136 back to its home position. Thisautomatically locks the lever assembly at a fixed angular position onthe main section 114 due to the re-engagement of the lock/brake sectionson the lock lever first end and the main section.

In this example embodiment the endoscope main section is provided with avertically oriented pulley, and the control/lock lever assembly rotatesabout the longitudinal axis of the endoscope main section. This assemblyproximal portion is located on the upper side (or alternatively thelower side) of the endoscope main section. Multiple recesses may beprovided on either side of the main section.

A single finger of a user can be used to unlock the locking engagementwith the multiple recesses 58 by pushing the second end of the locklever towards to the main section, and then rotating the deflectioncontrol wire pulley with the same finger by pushing the control/locklever proximal section forward or backward. The locking engagement canthen be re-engaged by-releasing the user finger from the control/locklever proximal section.

Moving the control/lock lever assembly in this way enables moreintuitive controls of the deflection at the distal tip of the flexibleshaft of the endoscope. It may provide greater ease of use for the enduser and can also be thought of as a change in design choice. Forexample, when the user desires to deflect the distal tip of theendoscope in an up/down configuration, it may be considered moreintuitive if the lever is moved forward and backward.

When the user desires to deflect the distal tip of the endoscope fromside to side, it may be considered more intuitive to move the lever leftand right (see FIGS. 1-2). The way in which the control wires areconnected from the distal tip of the flexible shaft of the endoscopeinto the control/lock lever assembly will ultimately determine howdeflection occurs at the distal tip of the flexible shaft of theendoscope.

In one example, an endoscope comprises a shaft having a deflectabledistal end; a main section at a proximal end of the shaft, where themain section forms a handle of the endoscope; and a deflection controlconnected no the distal end. The deflection control comprises a combinedlock and deflection control member at one main section comprising acontrol lever pivotably connected to the main section at a pivot andextending away from the pivot in a general cantilever fashion, and alock lever pivotably connected to the control lever. A first end of thelock lever is configured to contact the main section. A second end ofthe lock lever is configured to be pressed inward on the control leverby a user towards the main section to pivot the first end out of contactwith the main section.

The combined lock and deflection control member may be adapted to bemoved to a selected location by a single finger of a user and therebydeflect the distal end, wherein the combined lock and deflection controlmember is adapted to be locked at the user selected location by movementof the lock lever to a locked position by the single finger of the user.The control lever may be connected to a control wire pulley of thedeflection control, wherein the control wire pulley is connected to thedeflectable distal end. The lock lever may be biased by a spring on thecontrol lever towards a locked position with the main section. The firstend of the lock lever may comprise a projection adapted to contact alock section on the main section when the lock lever is at a lockedposition, and wherein the projection is disengaged from the lock sectionon the main section when the lock lever is pivoted on the control leverto an unlocked position. The lock section on the main section maycomprise a curved insert mounted onto the main section. The lock sectionon the main section may comprise recesses at predetermined locationsalong a curved path. A first section of the control lever may be locatedat a first exterior side of the main section and a second section of thecontrol lever is located at an adjacent second exterior side of thehandle, where the control lever has a cantilevered curved shape over thefirst and second exterior sides.

In another example, an endoscope comprises a shaft having a deflectabledistal end; a handle at a proximal end of the shaft; and a deflectioncontrol connected to the distal end. The deflection control comprises acontrol lever pivotably connected to a first side of the handle, wherethe control lever extends from the first side of the handle in a generalcantilever fashion, over an adjacent second side of the handle; and alock lever pivotably connected to the control lever, wherein the locklever comprises a lock section adapted to contact a lock section on thehandle.

The control lever may be connected to a control wire pulley of thedeflection control, wherein the control wire pulley is connected to thedeflectable distal end by a control wire. The lock lever may be biasedby a spring on the control lever towards a locked position with thehandle. The lock lever may be pivotably connected to the control leverby a pivot, where the lock lever includes a first end and a second endon opposite sides of the pivot, where the first end comprises the locksection of the lock lever, where the second end comprises a fingercontact area for a user to depress the second end and pivotably rotatethe lock lever on the control lever, and wherein the lock section of thelock lever is disengaged from the lock section on the handle when thelock lever is moved on the control lever no an unlocked position. Thelock section on she handle may comprise a curved insert mounted onto thehandle. The lock section on the handle may comprise recesses atpredetermined locations along a curved path. The control lever may havea longitudinally curved shape and the lock lever may have alongitudinally curved shape generally in a same direction of curvatureas the control lever.

An example method may comprise pivotably connecting a control lever to ahandle section of an endoscope, where the control lever is connected toa control wire pulley of a deflection control system of the endoscope,where the control lever is adapted to be rotated on the handle sectionto rotate the pulley; and pivotably connecting a lock lever to thecontrol lever, where the lock lever is adapted to pivot on the controllever between a locked position and an unlocked position, where in thelocked position a locking section on a first end of the lock leverengages a lock section of the handle section, and where in the unlockedposition the locking section on the first end of the lock lever does notengage the lock section of the handle section. The method may furthercomprise locating a spring between the control lever and the lock leverto bias the lock lever towards the locked position.

Another example method may comprise rotating a lock lever in a firstdirection from a first locked position to a second unlocked position,where the lock lever is pivotably connected to a control lever, wherethe control lever is pivotably connected to a control wire pulley of adeflection control system of the endoscope; and after the lock lever ismoved to the second unlocked position, moving the lock lever and thecontrol lever together in a second different direction to thereby rotatethe control wire pulley. The method may further comprise, after the locklever and control lever are rotated in the second direction to a userselected location, allowing a spring to pivot the lock lever on thecontrol lever in a third direction opposite to the first direction suchthat a lock section of the lock lever engages a lock section on a handlesection of the endoscope.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is onlyillustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modificationscan be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from theinvention. For example, features recited in the various dependent claimscould be combined with each other in any suitable combination(s). Inaddition, features from different embodiments described above could beselectively combined into a new embodiment. Accordingly, the inventionis intended to embrace ail such alternatives, modifications andvariances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An endoscope comprising: a shaft having adeflectable distal end; a main section at a proximal end of the shaft,where the main section forms a handle of the endoscope; and a deflectioncontrol connected to the distal end, wherein the deflection controlcomprises a combined lock and deflection control member at the mainsection comprising a control lever pivotably connected to the mainsection at a pivot and extending away from the pivot in a generalcantilever fashion, and a lock lever pivotably connected to the controllever, where a first end of the lock lever is configured to contact themain section and where a second end of the lock lever is configured tobe pressed inward on the control lever towards the main section to pivotthe first end out of contact with the main section.
 2. An endoscope asin claim 1 wherein the combined lock and deflection control member isadapted to be moved to a selected location by a single finger of a userand thereby deflect the distal end, and wherein the combined lock anddeflection control member is adapted to be locked at the user selectedlocation by movement of the lock lever to a locked position by thesingle finger of the user.
 3. An endoscope as in claim 1 wherein thecontrol lever is connected to a control wire pulley of the deflectioncontrol, wherein the control wire pulley is connected to the deflectabledistal end.
 4. An endoscope as in claim 1 wherein the lock lever isbiased by a spring on the control lever towards a locked position withthe main section.
 5. An endoscope as in claim 1 wherein the first end ofthe lock lever comprises a projection adapted to contact a lock sectionon the main section when the lock lever is at a locked position, andwherein the projection is disengaged from the lock section on the mainsection when the lock lever is pivoted on the control lever to anunlocked position.
 6. An endoscope as in claim 5 wherein the lock section on the main section comprises a curved insert mounted onto the mainsection.
 7. An endoscope as in claim 5 wherein the lock section on themain section comprises recesses at predetermined locations along acurved path.
 8. An endoscope as in claim 1 wherein a first section ofthe control lever is located at a first exterior side of the mainsection and a second section of the control lever is located at anadjacent second exterior side of the handle, where the control lever hasa cantilevered curved shape over the first and second exterior sides. 9.An endoscope comprising: a shaft having a deflectable distal end; ahandle at a proximal end of the shaft; and a deflection controlconnected to the distal end, wherein the deflection control comprises; acontrol lever pivotably connected to a first side of the handle, wherethe control lever extends from the first side of the handle in a generalcantilever fashion, over an adjacent second side of the handle; and alock lever pivotably connected to the control lever, wherein the locklever comprises a lock section adapted to contact a lock section on thehandle.
 10. An endoscope as in claim 9 wherein the control lever isconnected to a control wire pulley of the deflection control, whereinthe control wire pulley is connected to the deflectable distal end by acontrol wire.
 11. An endoscope as in claim 9 wherein the lock lever isbiased by a spring on the control lever towards a locked position withthe handle.
 12. An endoscope as in claim 9 wherein the lock lever ispivotably connected to the control lever by a pivot, where the locklever includes a first end and a second end on opposite sides of thepivot, where the first end comprises the lock section of the lock lever,where the second end comprises a finger contact area for a user todepress the second end and pivotably rotate the lock lever on thecontrol lever, and wherein the lock section of the lock lever isdisengaged from the lock section on the handle when the lock lever ismoved on the control lever to an unlocked position.
 13. An endoscope asin claim 9 wherein the lock section on the handle comprises a curvedinsert mounted onto the handle.
 14. An endoscope as in claim 9 whereinthe lock section on the handle comprises recesses at predeterminedlocations along a curved path.
 15. An endoscope as in claim 9 where thecontrol lever has a longitudinally curved shape and where the lock leverhas a longitudinally curved shape generally in a same direction ofcurvature as the control lever.
 16. A method comprising: pivotablyconnecting a control lever to a handle section of an endoscope, wherethe control lever is connected to a control wire pulley of a deflectioncontrol system of the endoscope, where the control lever is adapted tobe rotated on the handle section to rotate the pulley; and pivotablyconnecting a lock lever to the control lever, where the lock lever isadapted to pivot on the control lever between a locked position and anunlocked position, where in the locked position a locking section on afirst end of the lock lever engages a lock section of the handlesection, and where in the unlocked position the locking section on thefirst end of the lock lever does not engage the lock section of thehandle section.
 17. A method as in claim 16 further comprising locatinga spring between the control lever and the lock lever to bias the locklever towards the locked positron.
 18. A method comprising: rotating alock lever in a first direction from a first locked position to a secondunlocked position, where the lock lever is pivotably connected to acontrol lever, where the control lever is pivotably connected to acontrol wire pulley of a deflection control system of the endoscope; andafter the lock lever is moved to the second unlocked position, movingthe lock lever and the control lever together in a second differentdirection to thereby rotate the control wire pulley.
 19. A method as inclaim 18 further comprising, after the lock lever and control lever arerotated in the second direction to a user selected location, allowing aspring to pivot the lock lever on the control lever in a third directionopposite to the first direction such that a lock section of the locklever engages a lock section on a handle section of the endoscope.